certificate of title

1

: a certificate of ownership stating that the title to the specified property is free and clear except for any encumbrance (as a mortgage) listed on it: as

a

: a certificate issued by a motor vehicle registry

called also title

b

: a certificate issued by a registry of deeds see also torrens system

2

: a document issued by a title abstracter (as an attorney) giving a legal opinion as to the status of a property's title based on a title search or abstract of title compare deed